Sobriety and Recovery: Synonymous?

Posted on August 30th by Sidney | currently 2 commenting

I checked into a residential treatment facility November 3, 2009. I was 56 years old. Drug and alcohol abuse had been my way of life for 17+ years. Depression thrived in this disconnected environment. I’ve been sober for almost three years and in recovery for a bit over a year. To me there’s a big difference. Even I knew I had to first get clean and sober. I was OK with that. It took about three weeks for the polypharmaceuticals to get out of my system. I stayed in treatment for four weeks. It took much longer to clear the cobwebs and cluttered toxicity out of my head. I believe there are short circuits in my brainwaves, and they only fire off every now and then. I believe there are parts of my brain that need to be jumped off like a dead battery because I haven’t been behind the wheel in a while. These are the things I worked on for almost two years. It was not a hop, skip and a jump; it was more like being on a slow boat to China. I had to work up to recovery. Now I’ve arrived at this place where life is good. It’s a place where drugs don’t fit. It’s that simple.

Being clean and sober was not enough. I needed to heal my heart and soul. My vacant longings were for acceptance, kindness and a feeling of belonging.

I’m in recovery.

Share your thoughts with me.

Sidney Austin

Lead Advocate Heroes in Recovery

“Believe in magic and always stay connected.”

Comments (2) Tags:
  • Sue , HIR Advocate

    Love this. Another way I’ve learned to view clean and sober
    as you describe it , is as early recovery. The first 1-2 years are the slow clearing of the cobwebs and sorting out the jumbled up thoughts , use created. Healing takes place, both in the heart and mind, with a lot of commitment to hard work. Recovery allows us to really live our own lives, on our terms.

    • sidney

      ” By George, I think she’s got it ” !!! Thanks for sharing this Sue ~~~